Search

To provide athletic trainers and team physicians with updated recommendations to the 2014 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) concussion position statement regarding concussion management, specifically in the areas of education, assessment, prognostic factors, mental health, return to academics, physical activity, rest, treatment, and return to sport. Athletic trainers have benefited from the 2 previous NATA position statements on concussion management, and although the most recent NATA position statement is a decade old, knowledge gains in the medical literature warrant updating several (but not all) recommendations. Furthermore, in various areas of the body of literature, current evidence now exists to address items not adequately addressed in the 2014 statement, necessitating the new recommendations. This document therefore serves as a bridge from the 2014 position statement to the current state of concussion evidence, recommendations from other organizations, and discrepancies between policy and practice. These recommendations are intended to update the state of the evidence concerning the management of patients with sport-related concussion, specifically in the areas of education; assessment advances; prognostic recovery indicators; mental health considerations; academic considerations; and exercise, activity, and rehabilitation management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injury or illness can affect individual perceptions of health status and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Concussion can result in different symptoms, impairments, and functional limitations that have been found to lower HRQOL. Furthermore, concussion is known to influence the emotional and behavioral dyscontrol domains of HRQOL in pediatric populations; however, this has yet to be explored in other populations. To compare individuals with and those without a concussion history and (1) HRQOL and (2) the emotional and behavioral dyscontrol domains of HRQOL in college students. Cross-sectional study. University laboratory setting. Of a total of 252 participants (155 women; age = 19.95 ± 1.53 years), 76 (30.2%) had a history of concussion and 176 (69.8%) did not. For participants with a history of concussion, the mean time since injury was 5.29 ± 2.77 years. The Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Information System (PROMIS) Global Health, version 1.1, and Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Emotional and Behavioral Dyscontrol Short Form (Neuro-QOL). No differences were seen between median scores in individuals with and those without a history of concussion in the PROMIS Physical Health (13.0 versus 14.0; P =.24), PROMIS Mental Health (12.0 versus 12.0; P =.99), and Neuro-QOL (16.0 versus 16.0; P =.47) scores. Additionally, when gender was controlled, the associations between a history of concussion and PROMIS Physical Health score (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95% CI = 0.43, 2.52), PROMIS Mental Health score (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.13, 3.25), and Neuro-QOL score (OR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.66, 2.04) were not significant. Preliminary findings suggested that the emotional and behavioral dyscontrol domains were not influenced by a concussion history of > 1 year in college-aged participants. Future researchers should continue to explore specific HRQOL domains affected by concussion as well as the influences of prior mental health conditions and behavioral dysfunction after a subsequent injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport specialization, or focused participation in a single sport, is associated with an increased rate of overuse injury and burnout. Medical associations and sport organizations have published recommendations for sport specialization aimed at reducing its negative consequences. Health care providers (HCPs) are often identified as individuals who can educate athletes and parents about these important recommendations. To compare knowledge, perceptions, awareness, confidence in knowledge, and use of sport specialization recommendations among HCPs who work with pediatric athletes. Cross-sectional study. An online web-based survey was developed to assess HCPs' knowledge, perceptions, awareness, confidence in knowledge, and clinical use of sport specialization recommendations. Participants were recruited from the research survey services of 4 professional organizations. Dependent variables were responses for awareness, perceptions, confidence in knowledge, use, and barriers sections of the survey. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics; comparisons among HCPs were made through χ2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The survey was completed by 770 HCPs (completion rate = 95.1%). Respondents lacked awareness specific to recommendations surrounding the maximum number of sport participation months per year (39.5%), maximum hours per week (40.7%), and maximum number of teams on which youth athletes should participate concurrently (43.9%). Physicians were the most aware of medical organization recommendations generally (48%–68.8%) and confident in their knowledge (41.5%–75.1%). All HCPs were less aware and confident in their knowledge of sport organization recommendations, with no differences among HCPs. Physicians did not perceive many barriers to the use of the recommendations, whereas athletic trainers felt that patient (39.9%) and parent (45.3%) behaviors were the greatest barriers to usage. Awareness, perceptions, and use of sport specialization recommendations varied by discipline, but most respondents believed they were associated with a decreased risk of injury. Future researchers should focus on improved education and implementation of recommendations across all roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on advances in concussion assessment, treatment, and management since the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) published its 2014 position statement. Topics include updates to the NATA's recommendations in key areas such as education, assessment, mental health considerations, and rehabilitation management strategies.

Despite a call to incorporate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into all aspects of health care, little is known about which instruments are best suited for a pediatric patient population with sport-related injury. The objective of this article was to perform a systematic review of the currently available evidence to determine which PROMs were used for pediatric patients with sport-related injuries and identify the associated psychometric properties and considerations for clinical utility. We conducted a literature search for articles on PROMs used in the pediatric population through electronic databases and a manual search of reference lists and authors between from inception to 2020. Articles were grouped based on the PROM(s) included, and considerations for clinical utility and psychometric properties were extracted from each article. Thirty-nine articles were included in this review, from which 22 PROMs were identified: 12 PROMs were developed specifically for the pediatric population, 4 were modified versions of an adult scale, and 6 were adult measures used in a pediatric population. Of the PROMs included in this review, the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for Children and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory were the most comprehensive in their development and assessment. Several outcome measures used for pediatric patients had missing or inadequate measurement properties and considerations for clinical utility, particularly in regard to readability, responsiveness, and interpretability. Clinicians and researchers should consider a measure's feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and psychometric properties when selecting a PROM for use with the pediatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State laws provide general guidelines for sport-related concussion (SRC) management but do not comprehensively address the multiple layers of management for this complex injury. Although high schools are encouraged to develop SRC protocols that include both state law tenets and additional management practices, the execution of these protocols warrants examination. To investigate state law compliance and practice components included in high school SRC protocols and determine whether the degree of sports medicine coverage influenced protocol quality. Qualitative document analysis. High school athletics. In total, 184 Pennsylvania high schools (24.3% of schools statewide; full-time athletic trainers [ATs] = 149, part-time ATs = 13, missing = 22) voluntarily provided copies of their protocols from the 2018–2019 academic year. Four ATs conducted document analyses using a 67-item component analysis guide. Frequencies were computed for included protocol components related to the state law, preparticipation and prevention, recognition and assessment, and management. The difference in the total number of included components (maximum = 60) by sports medicine coverage was assessed using a Mann-Whitney U test. Heterogeneity existed in the components included in the submitted protocols. Only 23.4% included all mandatory state law tenets. Immediate removal from play was noted in 67.4% of protocols, whereas only 1.6% contained prevention strategies. Return to play was addressed more frequently than return to learn (74.5% versus 32.6%). The sample had a mean of 15.5 ± 9.7 total components per protocol. Schools with full-time sports medicine coverage had more protocol components than those with part-time ATs (15 [interquartile range = 8.5–22.5] versus 6 [3–10.5] median components; U = 377.5, P <.001). School-level written SRC protocols were often missing components of the state law and additional best-practice recommendations. Full-time sports medicine coverage in high schools is recommended to increase SRC protocol and health care quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary schools that offer school-sponsored athletic events should follow best-practice guidelines to provide policies that promote student health and safety. To assess emergency preparedness from the perspective of athletic administrators (AAs) in Iowa secondary schools. Cross-sectional study. Online survey. Ninety-eight AAs from Iowa completed the survey (age = 45.33 ± 10.22 years, years as an AA = 9.37 ± 8.14, years in current role = 7.72 ± 7.09). The 6-section survey contained with questions about access to athletic trainers (ATs), emergency action plans (EAPs), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillators (AEDs), concussions, heat illness, and other general policies. Descriptive statistics (percentages and frequencies) were reported. Relative risk was calculated to compare schools with and those without access to ATs (P <.05). Most respondents (76.5%, n = 75/98) reported their school had access to a licensed AT. The majority had a written EAP (83.3%, n = 70/84), but fewer than half (39.2%, n = 31/79) reviewed it annually and fewer than 10% (n = 6/85) reported practicing it each year. All respondents (100%, N = 78/78) stated they had an AED on campus. All respondents (N = 77/77) indicated that they were familiar with the Iowa High School Athletic Association's (IHSAA's) concussion policy and had a concussion guideline in place. Many respondents (95.9%, n = 71/74) described being familiar with the IHSAA's heat illness policy, but more than half (62.1%, n = 41/66) noted they did not have a heat illness policy in place at their school. Most respondents indicated their school had access to ATs, followed the state-mandated concussion guidelines, and had an AED. Although participants reported having written EAPs in place, levels of annual EAP review and practice were low. These results suggest that schools would benefit from educational opportunities to improve safety policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knee injuries are common during sport participation. However, little is known about the overall management and estimated direct costs of care associated with these injuries when under the care of athletic trainers. To describe the treatment characteristics and direct costs of care for athletic training services provided for patients with knee injuries. Descriptive study. Ninety-five athletic training facilities across 24 states. A total of 117 athletic trainers (females = 56.4%, age = 29.4 ± 8.7 years, years certified = 4.7 ± 6.0, years employed at site = 1.6 ± 4.1). Complete patient cases were identified using International Classification of Disease-10 diagnostic codes between 2009 and 2020. Summary statistics were calculated for patient demographics, treatment characteristics, and direct costs of care. Treatment characteristics included the type of athletic training service, duration, amount (eg, number of visits), and direct costs of care. A total of 441 patient cases were included. The most common injuries reported were cruciate ligament sprain (18.1%, n = 80), medial collateral ligament sprain (15.4%, n = 68), and knee pain (14.1%, n = 62). Injuries occurred most frequently during football (35.4%, n = 156), basketball (14.7%, n = 65), and soccer (12.7%, n = 56). A total of 8484 athletic training services were recorded over 4254 visits, with therapeutic exercise (29.8%, n = 2530), hot or cold pack (25.8%, n = 2189), and therapeutic activities (11.2%, n = 954) being the most frequently reported services. The median duration of care was 23 days and number of visits was 8. The median total cost of care was $564 per injury and $73 per visit. Patients with knee injuries demonstrated greater time loss than those with other lower extremity injuries. Thus, it is unsurprising that knee injuries were associated with a longer duration and higher cost of care than other lower extremity injuries such as ankle sprains. Future researchers should examine the effectiveness of common treatment strategies and aim to identify treatments that can reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses articles within the issue on topics including mental health and well-being in sports, mental health of athletes and athletic trainers, and effect of concussion on mental health.

Context: Gymnastics trains fundamental movement skills but has high rates of early sport specialization. Early specialization is associated with increased injury risk. Gymnasts devote time to developing technical skill, but whether specialization status influences performance is unknown. Objective: To describe the participation and specialization characteristics of youth club gymnastics participants and determine whether the level of specialization is associated with fitness and functional task performance. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: A single gymnastics facility. Patients or Other Participants: Data on youth gymnasts (n = 131; 84 females, 47 males; age = 10.9 ± 2.9 years, height = 142.14 ± 16.23 cm, mass = 38.15 ± 12.93 kg) were reviewed. Main Outcome Measure(s): Specialization was assessed using a 3-tiered classification. Fitness measurements consisted of the Gymnastics Functional Measurement Tool, Men's Gymnastics Functional Measurement Tool, and core strength. Functional tasks evaluated hop performance, dynamic balance, and jump-landing technique. Separate analyses of covariance, covaried by age, hours of training, and years of gymnastics participation, were used to identify differences in fitness and functional performance among specialization groups. Pearson product correlations were calculated to evaluate the relationships between training hours per week and years in gymnastics with fitness and functional performance. Results: Most gymnasts were classified as moderately (50.4%, n = 66) or highly (35.1%, n = 46) specialized. Only 14.5% (n = 19) were classified as having a low level of specialization. Weak to moderate correlations were present between years in gymnastics and most fitness tasks. Moderate to strong correlations were noted between training hours per week and most fitness tasks. Low-specialization gymnasts scored lower on right lower extremity Y-balance (P = .004), upper left extremity Y-balance (P = .033), and right hop performance (P = .039) tests. Conclusions: Gymnasts reported high proportions of moderate to high specialization, and many exceeded guidelines for hours participating in gymnastics per week. We did not observe clinically meaningful group differences among specialization status and fitness or functional movement tasks, indicating no clear benefit of gymnastics training to the exclusion of other sports for increased performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To present the appropriate medical care standards for organizations that sponsor athletic activities for secondary school-aged athletes. Data Sources: To develop the current standards and identify current best-practices evidence, the task force used a multistep process that included reviewing the existing 2004 Appropriate Medical Care for Secondary School-Aged Athletes consensus points and cross-referencing of National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) statements and official documents from the strategic alliance (the NATA, NATA Foundation, Board of Certification, and Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education). Gaps in the recommendations from the 2004 Appropriate Medical Care for Secondary School-Aged Athletes document were identified by the task force, and the new appropriate medical care standards were developed and refined. Conclusions and Recommendations: Twelve standards, with supporting substandards, were developed that encompassed readiness to participate in activity; facilities; equipment; protective materials; environmental policies; nutrition, hydration, and dietary supplementation; wellness and long-term health; comprehensive emergency action plans; on-site immediate care; on-site therapeutic interventions; psychological concerns; and athletic health care administration. Collectively, these standards describe a comprehensive approach to providing appropriate health care to secondary school-aged athletes and should serve as a framework with which organizations can evaluate and improve the medical care supplied to adolescent athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Schools that sponsor athletic programs have an obligation to provide a safe environment with appropriate policies for addressing emergencies. Objective: To describe the emergency preparedness of secondary schools in Arizona specific to emergency action plans (EAPs), cardiac arrest, concussion, and heat illness. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Online survey. Patients or Other Participants: Athletic directors from 143 Arizona secondary schools (response rate= 54%). Intervention(s): A 6-section survey that included questions related to athletic trainer (AT) access, EAPs, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), concussion, heat illness, and other policies. Main Outcome Measure(s): Descriptive statistics were reported. Comparisons of responses between schools with and without AT access were conducted with Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Most respondents (81%, n= 116) indicated their school had access to an AT, and 95% (n=125) of respondents reported their school had a written EAP. The AEDs were available at most (93%, n=121) schools. All respondents were familiar with the interscholastic concussion policy, and 98% (n= 123) indicated they had a school-specific policy. Almost all respondents (99%, n= 121) reported being familiar with the state heat-illness policy. Environmental measures were taken before practices at 48% (n= 60) of schools. Schools with access to an AT were more likely to have an EAP, venue-specific EAPs, physician approval of EAPs, AEDs, heat-illness policies, and cold-water immersion tubs and to take environmental measures. Conclusions: Whereas the majority of schools reported AT access, not all schools had adequate EAPs in place. Schools would benefit from educational opportunities regarding best practices and policy development to improve emergency preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Currently, significant attention is focused on improving care for patients with concussions through legislative mandates that include educational interventions. Few researchers have examined young athletes' concussion knowledge and the factors that may influence their knowledge. Objective: To use the socioecological model to examine demographic, parental, and personal factors associated with youth athletes' knowledge of concussion. Our ultimate goal is to inform the planning and implementation of youth sport concussion-related interventions. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Gymnasium and classroom. Patients or Other Participants: North Carolina and Arizona youth athletes (n = 225; age = 8 to 15 years) active in football, boys' or girls' soccer, boys' or girls' ice hockey, or boys' or girls' lacrosse in 2012-2013. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants completed a validated, self-administered survey. The intention and belief measures were guided by the theory of planned behavior. Perceptions of concussion and intention to seek care were examined using descriptive statistics. Athletes' concussion knowledge was modeled using linear regressions and generalized estimating equations, with child demographic and personal factors and parental knowledge and attitudes about concussion as predictors. Results: Geography, sport, parental attitudes toward concussion, and athlete age were associated with athlete knowledge in the univariable analyses (P < .10). In the multivariable model, geographic location (North Carolina versus Arizona, mean difference [MD] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1, 3.2), sport (girls' soccer versus girls' lacrosse, MD = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.7, 3.6), more favorable parental attitudes toward concussion (MD = 1.2 for a 2-standard deviation shift; 95% CI = 0.3, 2.1), and older age (>12 years, MD = 1.6; 95% CI = 0.5, 2.6) were associated with better knowledge about concussion. Conclusions: Geographic location, sport, parental attitudes about concussion, and athlete's age influenced athletes' concussion-related perceptions, indicating the need to address multiple levels of the socioecological model when targeting youth sport interventions. Parental interventions that translate to an improved culture of youth sport by improving youth athletes' perceptions and experiences are key areas for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Athletic trainers (ATs) play a vital role in managing the care of student-athletes after a sport-related concussion, yet little is known about their specific involvement in the implementation of academic adjustments as part of the concussionmanagement plan. Objective: To explore ATs' perceived roles and responsibilities regarding the implementation of academic adjustments for concussed student-athletes. Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Individual telephone interviews. Patients or Other Participants: Sixteen ATs employed in the secondary school setting (8 women, 8 men; age = 39.6 ± 7.9 years; athletic training experience = 15.1 ± 5.6 years), representing 12 states, were interviewed. Data Collection and Analysis: One telephone interview was conducted with each participant. After the interviews were transcribed, the data were analyzed and coded into themes and categories, which were determined via consensus of a 4-person research team. To decrease researcher bias, triangulation occurred through participant member checking, the inclusion of multiple researchers, and an internal auditor. Results: Several categories related to participants' perceptions regarding their roles and responsibilities within the academicadjustments process emerged from data analysis: (1) understanding of academic adjustments, (2) perceptions of their roles in academic adjustments, (3) initiation of academic adjustments, (4) facilitation of academic adjustments, and (5) lack of a role in the academic-adjustments process. Althoughmost ATs perceived that they had a role in the initiation and facilitation of academic adjustments for concussed student-athletes, some reported they did not want a role in the process. Regardless, participants frequently suggested the need for further education. Conclusions: These findings highlight that ATs either wanted to be involved in the implementation of academic adjustments but felt further education was needed or they did not want to be involved because they felt that it was not in their area of expertise. To create a cohesive concussion-management team, it is vital that ATs understand their individual and collaborative roles in the secondary school setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To systematically review the literature regarding rest and return to activity after sport-related concussion. Data Sources: The search was conducted in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Educational Resources Information Center, Ovid MEDLINE, and PubMed using terms related to concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, physical and cognitive rest, and return to activity. Study Selection: Studies were included if they were published in English; were original research; and evaluated the use of, compliance with, or effectiveness of physical or cognitive rest or provided empirical evidence supporting the graded return-to-activity progression. Data Extraction: The study design, patient or participant sample, interventions used, outcome measures, main results, and conclusions were extracted, as appropriate, from each article. Data Synthesis: Articles were categorized into groups based on their ability to address one of the primary clinical questions of interest: use of rest, rest effectiveness, compliance with recommendations, or outcome after graded return-toactivity progression. A qualitative synthesis of the results was provided, along with summary tables. Conclusions: Our main findings suggest that rest is underused by health care providers, recommendations for rest are broad and not specific to individual patients, an initial period of moderate physical and cognitive rest (eg, limited physical activity and light mental activity) may improve outcomes during the acute postinjury phase, significant variability in the use of assessment tools and compliance with recommended return-toactivity guidelines exists, and additional research is needed to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of graded return-to-activity progressions. Furthermore, there is a significant need to translate knowledge of best practices in concussion management to primary care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To offer an overview of sport-related concussion (SRC) prevention and education strategies in the context of the socioecological framework (SEF). Athletic trainers (ATs) will understand the many factors that interact to influence SRC prevention and the implications of these interactions for effective SRC education. Background: Concussion is a complex injury that is challenging to identify and manage, particularly when athletes fail to disclose symptoms to their health care providers. Education is 1 strategy for increasing disclosure. However, limited information addresses how ATs can integrate the many factors that may influence the effectiveness of SRC education into their specific settings. Public health models provide an example through the SEF, which highlights the interplay among various levels of society and sport that can facilitate SRC prevention strategies, including education. Description: For ATs to develop appropriate SRC prevention strategies, a framework for application is needed. A growing body of information concerning SRC prevention indicates that knowledge alone is insufficient to change concussion-related behaviors. The SEF allows this information to be considered at levels such as policy and societal, community, interpersonal (relationships), and intrapersonal (athlete). The use of such a framework will facilitate more comprehensive SRC prevention efforts that can be applied in all athletic training practice settings. Clinical Applications: Athletic trainers can use this information as they plan SRC prevention strategies in their specific settings. This approach will aid in addressing the layers of complexity that exist when developing a concussion-management policy and plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research being done on evidence-based studies which examined concussions in athletes. It references the study "The Effects of Rest and Treatment Following Sport-Related Concussion: A Systematic Review of the Literature," by K. J. Schneider et al. in the 2013 issue of the "British Journal of Sports Medicine." The factors considered include criteria used in study selection, data extraction and final article selection.

Context: The "Appropriate Medical Coverage for Intercollegiate Athletics" (AMCIA) document was created to support assessment and calculation of athletic training personnel requirements. However, little is known regarding disparities between current and recommended staffing practices. Objective: To identify the staffing and employment characteristics of athletic health care services at Football Bowl Subdivision-level institutions. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Web-based survey. Patients or Other Participants: Head athletic trainers and athletic training staff members who were knowledgeable about budget and staff. Main Outcome Measure(s): The survey, Assessment of Staffing Levels at National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision-Level Institutions, was used to evaluate personal, university, and staff demographics; staffing and employment topics; and AMCIA variables and use. Results: The survey was accessed and partially completed by 104 individuals (response rate = 84.6%). A total of 79 athletic trainers (response rate = 76%) completed the entire survey. One-third of the respondents (34.2%, n = 26) met the recommended number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) for football, two-thirds of the respondents (65.7%, n = 50) failed to meet the recommendation, and 26.2% (n = 27) were missing data needed for FTE calculation. Among those who did not meet the recommended FTEs (n = 50), 38.0% (n = 19) were within 1 FTE of being compliant, 26.0% (n = 13) were within 2 FTEs, and 24.0% (n = 12) were within 3 FTEs. About one-third of respondents (35.9%, n = 37) reported not using the AMCIA, citing lack of funding (29.7%, n = 11), lack of administrative support (21.6%, n = 8), and other reasons (37.8%, n = 14). Conclusions: The majority of institutions that used the AMCIA were able to provide justification for staffing. For most of the institutions that failed to meet their recommendation, adding 1-3 FTE athletic trainers for football would change their compliance status. A uniform definition of the term FTE within collegiate athletics is needed to allow for structured assessment and allocation of staffing and workloads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide athletic trainers, physicians, and other health care professionals with best-practice guidelines for the management of sport-related concussions. Background: An estimated 3.8 million concussions occur each year in the United States as a result of sport and physical activity. Athletic trainers are commonly the first medical providers available onsite to identify and evaluate these injuries. Recommendations: The recommendations for concussion management provided here are based on the most current research and divided into sections on education and prevention, documentation and legal aspects, evaluation and return to play, and other considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Increased rates of sport participation and sport- related injury have led to greater emphasis on and attention to medical care of student-athletes in the secondary school setting. Access to athletic training services is seen as a critical factor for delivering adequate injury prevention and medical care to student-athletes. However, few data are available regarding practice characteristics of athletic trainers (ATs) in this setting. Objective: To characterize the practices of secondary school athletic trainers (ATs). Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Web-based survey. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 17 558 ATs with current National Athletic Trainers' Association membership were identified for survey distribution. Of these, 4232 ATs indicated that they practiced in the secondary school setting, and 4045 completed some part of the survey. Main Outcome Measure(s): A Web-based survey was used to obtain demographic information about ATs and their secondary schools and characteristics of athletic training practice. Descriptive data regarding the athletic trainer's personal characteristics, secondary school characteristics, and practice patterns are reported as percentages and frequencies. Results: Most respondents were in the early stages of their careers and relatively new to the secondary school practice setting. Nearly two-thirds (62.4%; n = 2522) of respondents had 10 or fewer years of experience as secondary school ATs, 52% (n=2132) had been certified for 10 or fewer years, and 53.4% (n = 2164) had 10 or fewer years of experience in any practice setting. The majority of respondents (85%) worked in public schools with enrollment of 1000 to 1999 (35.5%) and with football (95.5%). More than half of respondents were employed directly by their school. Most respondents (50.6%) reported an athletic training budget of less than $4000. The majority of ATs performed evaluations (87.5%) on-site all of the time, with a smaller percentage providing treatments (73.3%) or rehabilitation (47.4%) services all of the time. Conclusions: This is the first study to describe secondary school athletic training that reflects national practice trends. To improve the quality of athletic training care and to support and improve current working conditions, the profession must examine how its members practice on a day-to-day basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Analysis of health care service models requires the collection and evaluation of basic practice characterization data. Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) provide a framework for gathering data useful in characterizing clinical practice. Objective: To describe preliminary secondary school setting practice data from the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN). Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Secondary school athletic training facilities within the AT-PBRN. Patients or Other Participants: Clinicians (n = 22) and their patients (n = 2523) from the AT-PBRN. Main Outcome Measure(s): A Web-based survey was used to obtain data on clinical practice site and clinician characteristics. Patient and practice characteristics were obtained via deidentified electronic medical record data collected between September 1, 2009, and April 1, 2011. Descriptive data regarding the clinician and CPS practice characteristics are reported as percentages and frequencies. Descriptive analysis of patient encounters and practice characteristic data was performed, with the percentages and frequencies of the type of injuries recorded at initial evaluation, type of treatment received at initial evaluation, daily treatment, and daily sign-in procedures. Results: The AT-PBRN had secondary school sites in 7 states, and most athletic trainers at those sites (78.2%) had less than 5 years of experience. The secondary school sites within the AT-PBRN documented 2523 patients treated across 3140 encounters. Patients most frequently sought care for a current injury (61.3%), followed by preventive services (24.0%), and new injuries (14.7%). The most common diagnoses were ankle sprain/strain (17.9%), hip sprain/strain (12.5%), concussion (12.0%), and knee pain (2.5%). The most frequent procedures were athletic trainer evaluation (53.9%), hot- or cold-pack application (26.0%), strapping (10.3%), and therapeutic exercise (5.7%). The median number of treatments per injury was 3 (interquartile range = 2, 4; range = 2-19). Conclusions: These preliminary data describe services provided by clinicians within the AT-PBRN and demonstrate the usefulness of the PBRN model for obtaining such data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: To improve patient care, athletic training clinicians and researchers should work together to translate research findings into clinical practice. Problems with patient care observed in clinical practice should be translated into research frameworks, where they can be studied. Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) provide a compelling model for linking clinicians and researchers so they can conduct translational research to improve patient care. Objective: To describe (1) the translational research model, (2) practice-based research as a mechanism for translating research findings into clinical practice, (3) the PBRN model and infrastructure, (4) the research potential using the PBRN model, and (5) protection of human participants in PBRN research. Description: Translational research is the process of transforming research findings into health behavior that ultimately serves the public and attempts to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. Practice-based research represents the final step in the translational research continuum and describes research conducted by providers in clinical practices. The PBRNs are characterized by an organizational framework that transcends a single site or study and serves as the clinical research "laboratory" for conducting comparative-effectiveness studies using patient-oriented measures. The PBRN approach to research has many benefits, including enhanced generalizability of results, pooling of resources, rapid patient recruitment, and collaborative opportunities. However, multisite research also brings challenges related to the protection of human participants and institutional review board oversight. Clinical and Research Advantages: Athletic training studies frequently include relatively few participants and, consequently, are able to detect only large effects. The incidence of injury at a single site is sufficiently low that gathering enough data to adequately power a treatment study may take many years. Collaborative efforts across diverse clinical practice environments can yield larger patient samples to overcome the limitations inherent in single-site research efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the Growing Influence of Female Athletic Training Scholars. The article discusses that studies of health care competency address trends in return to play after concussion, concussion education and care-seeking behaviors, athlete-workload monitoring, and external biofeedback for chronic ankle injury rehabilitation; and investigations related to the vitality of the profession address work-family guilt, mentoring newly certified athletic trainers (ATs).

Reference/Citation: D'hondt NE, Struijs PA, Kerkhoffs GM, et al. Orthotic devices for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD002267. Clinical Question: Is there an effective bracing or taping technique for treating patellofemoral pain? Data Sources: The authors searched the Cochrane Muscu- loskeletal Injuries Group specialized register (December 2001), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (2000, issue 2), MEDLINE (January 1966 to March 2000), EMBASE (January 1988 to March 2000), CINAHL (January 1982 to March 2000), and PEDro (up to March 2000) without language limitations. They also contacted relevant orthotic companies and searched the included reference lists of the retrieved articles. The search terms for MEDLINE were anterior knee pain, arthralgia, knee joint, patella, and patellofemoral pain. The search terms for EMBASE were brace, chondropathy, dynamic splint, knee, orthosis, orthotics, patella, patella chondromalacia, patellofemoral joint, randomized control trial, and strap. The search terms for CINAHL were anterior knee pain, brace, orthot, orthos, random!, strap, tape, patell, and patellofemoral. In PEDro, the subsequent composite of search terms was therapy: manipulation, massage, mobilization, orthoses, splinting, stretching, strength training, taping; subdiscipline: musculoskeletal, orthopaedics, sports; method: clinical trial; problem: muscle weakness, pain, reduced joint compliance; body part: foot or ankle, lower leg or knee. Study Selection: All randomized and quasi-randomized trials comparing the effectiveness of knee or foot orthotics for treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome were included. Any trials that described the use of orthotic devices in conjunction with operative treatment were excluded from this review. Using these inclusion criteria, 2 reviewers independently assessed the potentially eligible studies and resolved any disagreements through conversation and negotiation by a third reviewer. Although the authors mentioned that the review's purpose was to assess knee and foot orthoses, none of the included studies assessed foot orthoses. Therefore, all trials that examined foot orthotics were excluded. Data Extraction: Using a preset extraction form, 2 reviewers independently entered data into a review manager software program (RevMan 2000; The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, United Kingdom). This program was produced by the Cochrane Collaboration to support systematic reviews. Any further information needed regarding methods and data was requested from the authors. Because of heterogeneity of the study population, interventions, and follow-up periods, statistical pooling was not conducted. In place of statistical pooling, the strength of scientific evidence was graded based on a scale of A through D, with A being the strongest evidence-based research and D being the weakest evidence-based research. Main Results: The search strategy identified 15 trials, of which only 5 trials met all the inclusion criteria and had enough data to be considered for pooling. The 5 trials involved 362 participants who were assessed for pain, functional improvement, isokinetic muscular strength, motivation, subjective success, worst pain, usual pain, subjective clinical pain, and patellofemoral congruence angle. Of the 5 studies included in the review, only the following statistically significant differences were found. The Protonics orthosis significantly decreased pain and improved function based on the Kujala score versus no treatment. A home exercise program with McConneli taping and biofeedback decreased pain and improved function based on the Functional Index Questionnaire versus home exercise and monitored therapy. In addition, the Protonics orthosis versus no treatment resulted in a patellofemoral congruence angle change; McConneli taping versus Couman bandage improved satisfaction with applied therapy and isokinetic muscle strength at 3007s of knee flexion. No other findings included in the review studies were statistically significant. The included studies were inadequate in their méthodologie quality and incomplete in their research-based evidence, which was obtained by their investigators. Conclusions: According to the systematic review by D'hondt et al, the strength of retrieved research-based evidence of effectiveness of orthotic devices in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome was graded C. This grade was appropriate because all trials had low-quality méthodologie evidence to support or reject the effectiveness of orthotics and taping techniques in reducing pain. Although very little scientific evidence is available regarding the use of orthotics and taping techniques, D'hondt et al identified trends in orthotics and taping techniques that should be considered in clinical practice. A comprehensive exercise and stretching program with tape application was more effective in decreasing worst pain and usual pain and increasing functional improvement. This finding indicates that patellofemoral pain syndrome is best treated by using more than 1 intervention. In addition, no difference was apparent in pain outcomes between McConneli taping technique and Couman bandage: neither technique resolved pain. The Protonics orthosis actively affected patellar tracking by reducing internal rotation of the femur and compression on the lateral aspect of the patella. As a result, the Protonics orthosis reduced pain compared with no treatment. In contrast, the Couman bandage is used only to guide the patellar tracking pattern and massage the structures around the patella during motion. Yet a home exercise program with the addition of a stretching program and McConneli taping decreased pain and increased function, which may suggest that a combination of treatment approaches is needed to effectively treat the condition, as found in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]